Ruffling or gathering attachment for sewing-machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. M. 00X.

RUFFLING 0R GATHERING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 270,751. Patented Jan.'16,1883..

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R M. COX. RUFPLING OR GATHERING ATTAOHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 270,751. Patented Jan.16,1883.

N. PETERS. Phqmunw m hor. Washingwn. n. (1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. COX, OF PRAIRIE CITY, ILLINOIS.

RUFFLING OR GATHERING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,751, dated January 16, 1883.

Application filed October 13, 1882. (No model.)

with a sewing-machine for the purpose of gathering the work into folds or tucks, which are secured in place by a line of stitches as fast.

as each of the folds or tucks is formed, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an ordinary sewing-machine with device attached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gatherer; Fig. 3, a side elevation taken from the opposite side; Fig. 4, a detail showing the keeper or yoke, and Fig. 5 is a detail showing the end of the gathering-blade.

Similar letters denote like parts.

A represents the needle-bar of the machine, which is connected by the screw to to the outer end of the horizontal arm C of the gatherer, which arm is pivoted at its inner end to an upright portion, 1), of the frame, the horizontal portion E of which is secured to a presser-foot, E, attached to the presser'bar B of the sewing-machine when the gatherer is in use.

The arm C is provided with a fixed pawl, C, which engages the teeth of the ratchet F and turns the wheel F, which is also pivoted to the upright D. The wheel F carries a crankpin,f, and is provided with a number of holes,

(see Fig. 2,) into either of which the said pin f may be screwed, so as to vary the throw of the crank-pin as may be desired.

H is a yoke secured to the frame E.

K is a spring that is preferably secured to the top of the yoke and curved over, so as to move between the vertical sides thereof.

J is the gathering-blade of the gatherer, which is pivoted by the crank-pin f to the wheel F, and it has a toothed feeding end formed with suitable slit, e, to allow it to feed the work close up to and past the needle of the machine. The saidgathering-blade is formed in two parts. One part thereof is slotted at L, and theother provided with a suitable set-screw, which affords a sufficient degree of longitudinal adjustment. As the bar 0 is vibrated by the movements of the needle-bar of the sewingmachine to which it is attached the pawl C operates to rotate the wheel F step by step by successively engaging the teeth of the ratchet F, and as the said wheel rotates, backward motion being prevented by the pawl 12, the gathering-blade J is reciprocated in the yoke H, over the work which is passing under the presserfoot, and every time the said gathering-blade makes a forward movement a fold of material will be gathered up and pushed under the presser-foot in the form of a fold or tuck, which is then'and there fed forward and secured by a line of stitches in the ordinary manner.

By altering the position of the crank-pin with respect to the center of wheel F the length of the folds or amount of material taken up each time may be regulated, and by means of the longitudinal adjustment of the gathering-blade the gathered folds may be arranged to lap over each other or not, as desired.

The spring K holds the gathering-blade J steadily down on the work, and being long and flexible it yields readily to irregularities in the thickness of the work.

Having thus described my invention, what/I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The longitudinallyadjustable horizontallymoving gathering-blade J, spring K, yoke H, frame E, presser-foot, and driving-wheel provided with an adjustable crank-pin and rat-chet, in combination with a suitable downwardlyacting pawl for rotating said driving-wheel, and a lever adapted to be actuated by the neodle-bar of a sewing-machine, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. COX. Witnesses:

ELIZA O. SANFORD, JACOB SANFORD. 

